KASHO

Whirlpools Sightseeing BoatUZUSHIO LINE

Naruto Park ＆ The Whirlpools

Naruto Park has a area of 3 square kilometers,inculding Naruto-yama
hills,which can view the whole whirlpools. In the park,there are Senjojiki,0cha-en,
Shichishudai, Naruto-yama viewing spot and etc.. This park was designated
and protected by the Ministry of Education as a natural preservatory
area in 193l and was incorporated into Setonaikai National Park in 1952.
The park is famous for the beauty of its view and its magnificient whirlpools，which
attracts many visitors each year. The width of the chamel between Tozaki
and Magozaki is only 1,350 meters. In the channel between Setonaiai
sear and kiisuido sea area，the tide difference is only 2 meters. But
the tide runs furiously into the lower sea level to higher sea level,which
makes the whirlpools so magnificient. Usually the tide comes in and
out between 13 Km／h to 15km／h, but the spring and fall tide shoots up
to 20 km／h. It is said that this tide difference is one of themost strongest
in the world. When the low tide comes, it goes out from Setonaikai to
Kiisuido, but at the high tide, it comes from the opposite direction.
The largest whirlpools in this area is more than 20 meters wide. At
the time of the low tide, the whirlpools appear in the Kiisuido sea
area and at the high tide, it makes its sight at the Setonaiai sea area.
This magnificient view is like ascroll of sea, and it is considered
as one of the three most beautiful tides in the world. And also, this
channel is known as the roughest spot in the sea traffic. 0ften many
fishing boats and large ships disappear into these whirlpools.

It is called Nakase in which the main bridge tower in Awaji Island
is located. The Awaji Island is in Hyogo Prefecture and the other side
of the bridge is in Tokushima Prefecture. In tne old days, Awaji Island
belonged to Hachisuka, the head of a Awa Clan in Tokushima Pref., but
now it belongs to Hyogo Pref.. The spot in which the main bridge tower
is standing in Naruto side is called Hadaka-jima and a small is1and
with a light house in Kiisuido sea area is called Tobishima. There is
Aboshijima in the south side and now it is comected to 0gejima-Island.
The fishermen in this area call Aboshi-jima as "Ebisu−yama"
or "Ebeshama" and has a shrine in which they worship for a
good haul.

The silver colored seashore which range in Aboshijima is called Chidoriga-hama.
It was the stage of "Naruto Hicho", famous noble written by
Eiji Yoshikawa. Naruto Chan-nel is a1so known to be the best fishing
spot and holds many different kinds of fish. The taste of the fish is
so good due to the fast current of the tide. In each season you can
enjoy all kinds of fish such as sea breams, yellowfish, mackerel, perch
and etc．